Endorsing and Opposing
Endorsing and Opposing
I have been asked frequently in recent days if I am an endorser or an opposer of that which so many Christians are currently "inspired" to endorse or oppose.
In this regard, I endorse Revelation 22.11, "Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy."
I also endorse a caution from one of the 20th Century's pre-eminent Christian prophets, Art Katz. (A good friend, who is now with the Lord.) Addressing the Church during his final visit to New Zealand in 2005, Art said, "When you separate power from character, you're already over and past and across the threshold and into the realm of deception. If there's any formula for deception and disaster it's that."
"I will not trust a man with power, except that he has the appropriate character ... which is humility. (He is) not to exercise it for his own self-aggrandisement, but only for God's glory. Because that's the character of a son; that's what distinguishes a son. Anything and everything that he does is never for his own advancement. It always comes at the expense of his being reduced. But it's for the Father ... the glory of the Father."
"No one," Art continued, "is more subject to the prospect of deception about himself than a prophet. (Not needing criticism) is a formula for becoming false. We need all the more (because we are prophetic ... subject to the peculiar error of that calling) to receive correction from those that are outside us, as coming even from God."
Further, I endorse this teaching of the 16th Century champion of the reformation of the Church of Scotland, John Knox, "Believe God, that plainly speaketh in His Word. And further than the Word teacheth you, you shall neither believe the one nor the other."
And finally, I endorse these words from the writings of David Baron (England, 1855-1926), a foundational Messianic scholar, "The least errors in theology always bear fruit. Never does man take up an incorrect principle of interpreting Scripture without the principle entailing awkward consequences, and colouring the whole tone of his religion."
